Embassy Offices

Public Affairs Section

Public Affairs Counselor -  Tom Dougherty

The Embassy's Public Affairs Section explains and supports American foreign policy and promotes U.S. national interests through a wide range of information programs. It promotes mutual understanding between the United States and Iraq by conducting educational and cultural activities. More specifically, the Public Affairs Section aims to:

• Explain and advocate U.S. policies in terms that are credible and meaningful in the Iraqi context.
  
• Provide information about the official policies of the United States and about the people, values, and institutions that shape those policies.
  
• Bring the benefits of mutual understanding to Iraqi and American citizens and institutions by helping them build strong long-term relationships.
  
• Work through colleagues in Washington, to provide the President and other policymakers with information about how foreign attitudes will have a direct bearing on the effectiveness of U.S. policies.

In one-on-one meetings, in conferences, and through media materials, we address themes with our Iraqi counterparts that include:

• Economic security -- pursuing American trade interests, globalization of the economy, and free-market ideals;
  
• Democracy and human rights;
  
• U.S. society and its values;
  
• Global issues such as environmental protection, curbing international narcotics trafficking, and anti-terrorism;
  
• Political security -- working toward a peaceful world and interrelationships;
  
• Information and communication -- how technology is affecting the global dialogue through the Information Superhighway, and how ethical journalism plays a role in societies' democratic maturation.

Public Affairs staffers have direct, substantive, and sustained contact with Iraqi leaders. They serve as spokespersons for all agencies represented in the U.S. diplomatic mission, articulate U.S. foreign policy concerns to journalists, and conduct press conferences for resident and visiting experts on a wide variety of subjects.